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Wednesday, 15 November 2017

Mother, 27, plunged 25ft to her death in front of her brother and boyfriend as she tried to climb through the window of her first floor flat when she couldn't find her keys after a night out

Simone Jarvis, 27, suffered fatal head injuries after falling 20ft from a windowsill

Coroner heard she had returned after a night out with her boyfriend and others

She realised she was locked out of her Bristol flat and tried to climb to first floor

One of her friends gave her a leg-up but the brickwork gave way under her grasp

A young mother fell 25ft to her death in front of her boyfriend and brother when she tried to climb into her flat after forgetting her keys, an inquest heard today.

Simone Jarvis, 27, suffered fatal head injuries after plunging from the first floor after brickwork underneath the windowsill gave way.

A coroner heard how she had returned after a night out with a group of friends when the 'tragic accident' happened in the early hours of January 14.

She realised she was locked out of her Georgian-period flat in Redland, Bristol and told her friends she had climbed in before, the inquest was told.

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A coroner heard Simone Jarvis (pictured) had returned after a night out with her boyfriend Oliver Steadman and some friends when the accident happened on January 14

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One of Ms Jarvis's friends gave her a 'leg-up' to reach an upper window (circled) but the brickwork gave way under her grasp and she fell to the ground and was knocked unconscious

One of her friends gave her a 'leg-up' to reach an upper window but the brickwork gave way under her grasp and she fell to the ground and was knocked unconscious.

Another friend, Josh Hannam, told the inquest in a statement that he warned the mother-of-one she 'shouldn't be climbing' the building.

He said: 'A neighbour let us in to the building, but then Simone went back outside.

'I followed her out and saw someone helping Simone climb up the right-hand corner of the building.

'I shouted to her that she shouldn't be climbing - then I heard one of our friends shouting "Simone" and turned to see the brickwork falling away.

'Her partner [Oliver Steadman] then called for an ambulance.'

PC Annette Coleman told Avon Coroners Court that she arrived at the scene shortly after 4am, by which time an ambulance was there.

She described 'a number of people on the street' outside the building and a large pool of blood in front of the stairs leading up to the main door of the building.

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The mother-of-one (left) realised she was locked out of her Georgian-period flat in Redland, Bristol and told her friends she had climbed in before (right, flowers left at the scene)

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Ms Jarvis is pictured with former boyfriend Christian Wiltshire, who called her a 'beautiful girl, inside and out' in a tribute at the time of the death. Her new boyfriend Oliver Steadman was with Ms Jarvis when the tragedy happened

She said: 'About 20 to 25 feet from ground level I could see a part of the windowsill was missing and appeared to have broken off.

'A female was on a stretcher being carried into the ambulance - she had fallen and was not breathing.

'Her boyfriend, Oliver Steadman, and her brother, Kallam Lester, identified themselves to me. Both were very upset and wanted to come to the hospital.

'Kallam kept saying "She fell", and was not making much sense.'

The inquest heard that paramedics managed to re-start Miss Jarvis's heart after she arrived at Bristol's Southmead Hospital.

But she had suffered a devastating brain injury and no neurological intervention was possible.

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PC Annette Coleman told Avon Coroners Court that she arrived at the scene shortly after 4am, by which time an ambulance was there

Assistant Coroner Dr Peter Harrowing recorded Simone's death as an accident, caused by traumatic brain injury.

He said: 'This was a tragic accident suffered while trying to gain entry to her flat, after she had been out enjoying herself with her boyfriend and other friends.'

Speaking after her death, her former partner Christian Wiltshire described Ms Jarvis as a 'beautiful girl, inside and out'.

Speaking today, he said: 'All of my friends and family that met her immediately loved her. She was an incredible mum to her son and a great girlfriend.

'She left a massive mark on my heart that always be there and had such a positive impact on my life.

'I feel so very honoured to have to got to know her and will cherish the memories that we share forever.'